View full sizeThe Indians hope to have finalized the status of reliever Matt Capps in the next couple of days. Capps has not made the Opening Day roster, but the team would like to keep the veteran in Columbus.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- It was Decision Sunday for a lot of players in the Indians' locker room. To be more precise, Decision Sunday night.

Manager Terry Francona, General Manager Chris Antonetti and their support staffs met after the 4-3 loss to the Cubs at Goodyear Ballpark to put the finishing touches on the 25-man roster. The Indians break camp Saturday, flying to Toronto to open the regular season April 2 at Rogers Centre, so the time was ripe for such a meeting.

"We've got a lot of stuff to talk about," said Francona. "I told the players, 'We recognize that this is the time of spring where there is some anxiety and we'll do the best we can to make decisions as quickly as we can.'"

Francona is right, there is much to discuss.

At the top of the list will be deciding between left-hander Scott Kazmir and right-hander Carlos Carrasco to fill the last spot in the starting rotation. Kazmir, who has not been in the big leagues since 2011, has pitched well in camp until Saturday, when he was blistered for 13 hits in five innings by Seattle. Carrasco is facing a six-game suspension dating back to 2011 whenever he's added to the 25-man roster.

The decision on the fifth starter could lead to a decision on whether the Indians open the season with 13 pitchers. They start the year with 13 games before a day off, so an extra bullpen arm could come in handy.

On Tuesday, a decision must be made on Matt Capps and Jason Giambi. The Indians could offer each a $100,000 retention bonus. If they accept, they would be sent to the minors with a June 1 out if they were not in the big leagues by then. If they refused, they'd become free agents.

The Indians faced the same situation with Daisuke Matsuzaka, but released him from his minor-league deal Sunday night. It's believed they're renegotiating with Matsuzaka because he has agreed to go to the minors. Capps, whose agent is pursuing other big-league jobs for the veteran closer, is still considering his options. He said he's trying to change the Indians' mind by pitching well.

"We already like him," said Francona. "Right now we have guys ahead of him. I told him, selfishly I hope he stays here. For his sake I'd be happy if someone called and offered him a job because he's a great kid."

Giambi, 42, has the best chance of the three to make the team. Francona values his presence in the clubhouse. Giambi has also shown he still has power, hitting three homers this spring.

If the Indians go with 13 pitchers, that could hurt Giambi's chances. Giambi, Matsuzaka and Capps, in camp on minor-league deals, are the only players eligible for retention bonuses.

Decisions must be made on other bench players such as Ryan Raburn (.359, 4 HRs, 11 RBI), Cord Phelps (.375, 3, 7), Ezequiel Carrera (.279, 1, 3, 11 steals) and Yan Gomes (.407, 1, 7). Raburn is in camp on a minor-league deal and has provisions to go to the minors. Phelps and Gomes have options left, but Carrera -- who leads the bigs in steals this spring -- is out of options.

The Indians must decide on what to do with first baseman/outfielder Chris McGuiness. They selected him in the Rule 5 draft and must offer him back to Texas because he's not going to make the club. If Texas doesn't want McGuiness, the Indians could work out a deal for him.

The Tribe lost Hector Rondon and T.J. McFarland in the Rule 5 in December. It appears Rondon will make the Cubs' bullpen. McFarland was selected by Baltimore, but could be headed back to the Tribe because he's not expected to make the Orioles' pitching staff.

In the bullpen a decision must be made on how many lefties Francona wants. With closer Chris Perez seemingly ready to open the season on time after missing much of camp with a sore right shoulder, the pen looks like this: Perez, Vinnie Pestano, Joe Smith, Rich Hill, Matt Albers, Brian Shaw and Cody Allen. All but Hill are right-handed.

Nick Hagadone would offer Francona another lefty. He had an excellent spring, allowing no runs of any kind in eight innings. He's struck out 11, walked two and allowed eight hits.

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